Student Housing in Manchester – Find a Room, Compare Areas, Know Your Rights

Student Housing Search

Search for student rooms and shared houses across Manchester. Filter by area, price, and bills-included. Every listing links to our area guides so you know what the neighbourhood is actually like before you sign.


Average Rent by Area (2026)

AreaRoom (shared house)Studio/1-bedBills included?
Fallowfield£400–550/mo£700–850/moUsually yes
Rusholme£380–480/mo£650–780/moMixed
Withington£370–480/mo£650–750/moMixed
Hulme£380–500/mo£650–800/moMixed
City Centre (PBSA)£550–750/mo£850–1,100/moUsually yes
Salford£350–450/mo£600–750/moMixed

Know Your Rights Before Signing

Deposit protection

Your landlord must protect your deposit in a government-approved scheme (DPS, TDS, or MyDeposits) within 30 days of receiving it. If they don’t, they can be fined up to 3x the deposit amount and cannot serve a Section 21 eviction notice. Check that your deposit is protected – the three scheme websites all have search tools.

What to check before signing

  • Gas safety certificate: Landlords must have an annual gas safety check. Ask to see the certificate.
  • EPC rating: The property must have a minimum E rating. Below that, it shouldn’t legally be rented out.
  • Smoke and CO alarms: Required on every floor. Check they work on the day you move in.
  • HMO licence: If 3+ people from 2+ households share a property, the landlord needs an HMO licence from Manchester City Council. You can check if a property is licensed on the council website.
  • Inventory: Take photos of everything on move-in day. Every mark, every stain, every broken thing. This protects your deposit at the end.

If things go wrong

  • Repairs not done: Report in writing (email is fine). If the landlord doesn’t respond within 14 days, contact Manchester City Council’s private rented sector team.
  • Dispute with landlord: UoM and MMU both have free student advice services that handle tenancy disputes. Use them before paying for legal advice.
  • Deposit not returned: If you can’t resolve it directly, use the dispute resolution service of whichever deposit scheme holds your money. It’s free.

For Landlords and Agents

List your student properties on MCR City. We reach thousands of students at UoM, MMU, and Salford. Contact us for listing options.

Area Guides

Not sure which area? Take the Area Matcher Quiz →

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